Thai authorities have shut down an illegal bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi, a town west of Bangkok, following complaints from residents about persistent power outages. The raid, conducted by police and officials from the Provincial Electricity Authorities (PEA), took place on Friday at a house in Ratchaburi.
Authorities found bitcoin mining rigs inside the house, indicating that it was being used to operate a large-scale mining operation. According to Jamnong Chanwong, a chief district security officer, the house’s electricity consumption was significantly higher than what the occupants had paid for.
“We found bitcoin mining rigs, pointing to people using this house to operate a mine and using power they didn’t fully pay for,” Chanwong explained to AFP.
Mining cryptocurrencies like bitcoin requires powerful computers that consume vast amounts of electricity. In Thailand, bitcoin miners are classified as manufacturers and are subject to associated taxes. However, illegal mining operations have been a growing problem in the country for years.
Chanwong said his team attempted to access the house on Thursday but were denied entry by a guard. They returned with a search warrant on Friday, only to discover that most of the equipment had been moved. The house had been rented by a company for approximately four months, and the power outages began in mid-July, coinciding with the likely full operation of the mine.
No arrests were made during the raid, which marked the fourth time this year that authorities have cracked down on illegal bitcoin mines in Ratchaburi province. The incident highlights the challenges faced by authorities in regulating the cryptocurrency industry and ensuring responsible energy consumption.
